Buffalo dreamgaze artist Dotsun Moon shares 'Save Us', exploring the uncertainty of new love

May 29, 2025

Upstate New York-based artist Dotsun Moon presents his new single 'Save Us', a lush and gazey plea to break down walls and find shared hope, even when love feels like a shot in the dark. Diving into a soundscape that captures the thrill and uncertainty of new love, this is a reverb-rich call to save what might be before it's lost.

'Save Us' arrives hot on the trail of 'Never Had a Heart', inspired by the driving energy and artful restraint of those who pioneered the early post-punk and new wave scene. Both singles offer a stunning taste of Dotsun Moon's third album 'Tiger', which is - both spiritually and sonically - influenced by M83 and New Order. Dashing out of the gate, this music is inspired by the music that motivated this artist to write music in the first place.

Based in Buffalo, Dotsun Moon is the creative wellspring from which Richard Flierl's musical visions flow, transforming his artistic inspirations into tangible form. Seeing several incarnations since releasing their debut album 4 A.M. in 2011, the trajectory remains steadfast on a path of dreamy rock offerings over the years, with multi-instrumentalist Flierl also gradually assuming vocal duties. In spring, Dotsun Moon shared new videos for the invigorating singles 'Bring Love' and 'Give Up The Tears'.

"You’d be forgiven if M83 comes to mind. The inspiration stops at the power of the intro and allows me to launch into the bass and guitar influences that are pronounced throughout this album. The song is a fun yet urgent call to someone important to let me in and find the good around us," says Richard Flierl.

"'Save Us' is about a relationship or just starting one, because a lot of relationships don’t last very long even after they do start. 'Save Us' means let this relationship work, but we haven’t a clue what we are doing. Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing we are in a good relationship at the start, despite all the warnings there really isn’t communication happening."

Conveying his bold and self-contained vision in every note and vocal line, Dotsun Moon's new album is a complete solo endeavor and a departure from previous work, which involved female vocals. Evoking both euphoria and a poignant sense of grounding, Dotsun Moon brings you this compelling and unique exploration. Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY, Richard Flierl and Doug White mixed the album on location.

"This is a huge change to prior releases, which have powerful female singers at the center. On this album, I am on vocals and all the songs are written and played by me from guitars and bass to keyboards, drums and programming. Doug White at Watchmen Studios brought decades of recording and mixing knowledge to the recordings that allows the songs to truly shine," says Richard Flierl.

Over the years, Dotsun Moon has performed with such notable artists as Mary Ognibene (The Lovely Intangibles) and Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Maria Sebastian, having also played shows with Joywave, Vanishing Kids and The Lost Patrol, not to mention Pride Festival.

As of April 30, 'Never Had a Heart' is available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full 'Tiger' album, set for release on June 27, is available for pre-order.

CREDITS
Music & lyrics written by Richard Flierl (ASCAP)
Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming & synths by Richard Flierl
Mixed by Richard Flierl and Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY
Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios
Cover artwork by Doc Wintersmith
Artist photos by Meredith Snow
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Buffalo-based Dotsun Moon shares 'Never Had a Heart', highlight gem previewing third album

May 1, 2025

Upstate New York-based artist Dotsun Moon presents his new single 'Never Had a Heart', inspired by the driving energy and artful restraint of those who pioneered the early post-punk and new wave scene. This fresh offering makes an immediate and impactful entrance following earlier invigorating singles 'Bring Love' and 'Give Up The Tears'.

'Never Had a Heart' is a stunning taste of Dotsun Moon's third album 'Tiger', which is - both in spirit and sound - influenced by M83’s epic 'Before The Dawn Heals Us' and New Order's 'Ceremony' and 'Temptation' phases.

Revolving around the musings of Richard Flierl and based in Buffalo, Dotsun Moon has gone through several incarnations since releasing their debut album 4 A.M. back in 2011, but the trajectory remains steadfast on a path of dreamy rock offerings over the years, with multi-instrumentalist Flierl also gradually assuming vocal duties.

"The title 'Never Had A Heart' is short for “heaven never had a heart like yours”. This song comes dashing out of the gate, inspired by the music that motivated me to write songs," says Richard Flierl.

"The bass, channeling Peter Hook of New Order, is in full effect, subsiding when the vocals begin - this would fit in on a New Order, M83 or Love and Rockets album. Daniel Ash plays a prominent role in my approach to the guitar. Why play fifty notes when they aren’t needed? From Bauhaus, Tones On Tail, Love and Rockets and Ash’s solo albums, he is one of my guitar heroes."

Conveying his bold and self-contained vision in every note and vocal line, Dotsun Moon's new album is a complete solo endeavor and a departure from previous work, which involved female vocals. Evoking both euphoria and a poignant sense of grounding, Dotsun Moon brings you this compelling and unique exploration. Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY, Richard Flierl and Doug White mixed the album on location.

"This is a huge change to prior releases, which have powerful female singers at the center of the songs. On this album, I am on vocals and all the songs are written and played by me from guitars and bass to keyboards, drums and drum programming. Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY brought decades of recording and mixing knowledge to the recordings that allows the songs to truly shine," says Richard Flierl.

"I grew up outside of Buffalo, NY listening to the local college station WBNY and the alternative Toronto station CFNY for music, info and concert announcements. I picked up a guitar in my late teens and wanted to make music under the impression of Pink Floyd and Echo and The Bunnymen. I had no idea there were other bands who made music like they did. Will Sergeant became a hero, watching him and the Bunnymen live as they toured with New Order. Strangely after seeing both bands live, New Order’s Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook became my biggest influences."

Over the years, Dotsun Moon has performed with such notable artists as Mary Ognibene (The Lovely Intangibles) and Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Maria Sebastian, having also played shows with Joywave, Vanishing Kids and The Lost Patrol, not to mention Pride Festival.

As of April 30, 'Never Had a Heart' is available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full 'Tiger' album, set for release on June 27, is available for pre-order.

CREDITS
Music & lyrics written by Richard Flierl (ASCAP)
Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming & synths by Richard Flierl
Mixed by Richard Flierl and Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY
Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios
Cover artwork by Doc Wintersmith
Artist photos by Meredith Snow
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Dreamgaze artist Dotsun Moon shares 'Bring Love' & 'Give Up The Tears', heralding third album

April 15, 2025

Upstate New York-based artist Dotsun Moon has announced their forthcoming third album 'Tiger', sharing the video for the invigorating 'Bring Love' and penetrating 'Give Up The Tears', two choice offerings from an album that is, both in spirit and sound, influenced by M83’s epic 'Before The Dawn Heals Us' and New Order's 'Ceremony' and 'Temptation' phases.

Revolving around the musings of Richard Flierl and based in Buffalo, Dotsun Moon has gone through several incarnations since releasing their debut album 4 A.M. back in 2011, but the trajectory remains steadfast on a path of dreamy rock offerings over the years, with multi-instrumentalist Flierl also gradually assuming vocal duties.

"The song 'Bring Love' is about accepting a breakup and hoping someday for a reconciliation. This song would fit right in at the end of a number of John Hughes films. The guitar riff plays along with angelic synths as I sing the line “see it [love] all around,” a call for love to return in any form," says Richard Flierl.

"On the other hand, 'Give Up The Tears' is anthemic hopefulness seeing the best the world has to offer with its opening synth note and Will Sergeant-influenced guitar. This is one of those songs made for sun-setting summer driving with the windows wide open. The drums pound and move the song along in turn increasing the power of the entire song."

Conveying his bold and self-contained vision in every note and vocal line, Dotsun Moon's new album is a complete solo endeavor and a departure from their previous work, which involved female vocals. Evoking both euphoria and a poignant sense of grounding, Dotsun Moon brings you this compelling and unique exploration. Engineered and mastered by Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY, Richard Flierl and Doug White mixed the album on location.

"This is a huge change to prior releases, which have powerful female singers at the center of the songs. On this album, I am on vocals and all the songs are written and played by me from guitars and bass to keyboards, drums and drum programming. Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY brought decades of recording and mixing knowledge to the recordings that allows the songs to truly shine," says Richard Flierl.

"I grew up outside of Buffalo, NY listening to the local college station WBNY and the alternative Toronto station CFNY for music, info and concert announcements. I picked up a guitar in my late teens and wanted to make music under the impression of Pink Floyd and Echo and The Bunnymen. I had no idea there were other bands who made music like they did. Will Sergeant became a hero, watching him and the Bunnymen live as they toured with New Order. Strangely after seeing both bands live, New Order’s Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook became my biggest influences."

Over the years, Dotsun Moon has performed with such notable artists as Mary Ognibene (The Lovely Intangibles) and Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Maria Sebastian, having also played shows with Joywave, Vanishing Kids and The Lost Patrol, not to mention Pride Festival.

'Bring Love' and penetrating 'Give Up The Tears' are out now, available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Dotsun Moon's next single 'Never Had a Heart' will be released on April 30. The full 'Tiger' album, set for release on June 27, is now available for pre-order.